When asked, 99% of employers will give a former worker’s dates of employment. About one in three will say if the employee is “eligible for rehire.” Unfortunately, less than 10% of employers will indicate the reason why an employee left their job or discuss their job qualifications, work habits, or personality traits.
These statistics, courtesy of the Society for Human Resource Management, reveal a truism — although employers like to get information about job applicants, they’re very hesitant to give out any.
So, what’s an employer to do?
- Look for inconsistencies when reviewing dates of hire. A gap in employment might reveal a hidden employer.
- Find out if the employee is “eligible for rehire.” If two out of three employers are willing to answer this question, then ask it every time. The answer will tell you a lot.
- Offer a reluctant past employer a release of any potential claims signed by the job applicant.
- Don’t give up. Contact all former employers listed, even those from jobs many years ago.
- Ask references about their knowledge of the candidate’s work history.
During the interviewing process, ask the applicant if any of their past employers would be reluctant to provide a job reference. Ask them for written letters of recommendation. Learn if they’ve kept copies of their termination notice or performance appraisals. Finally, be sure to inquire about occasions when they had to deal with something “unfair” in their previous jobs. The response should help reveal their character.